Flydubai Co-Pilot's Plot to Crash Plane into Tel Aviv Revealed

An Italian newspaper's investigation reveals that the co-pilot who attacked the pilot on a Flydubai flight had allegedly planned to hijack the plane and crash it into a building in Tel Aviv. The report states the Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, feigned prayer before attacking Indian pilot Smith Machar with an axe. He then disabled the autopilot, causing the aircraft to descend 16,000 feet and exceed 970 km/h, damaging the tail before the pilot regained control. The pilot opened the cockpit door, allowing off-duty crew to assist in subduing the attacker and safely landing the plane in Saudi Arabia. The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv carried 174 passengers when the incident occurred last Wednesday.